Ducks make changes and win in Edmonton

March 26, 2010

Updated Aug. 21, 2013 1:17 p.m.

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Edmonton Oilers' Andrew Cogliano (13) is taken down by Anaheim Ducks defenseman and former teammate Lubomir Visnovsky (17) during NHL action at Rexall Place in Edmonton. SHAUGHN BUTTS, CANWEST NEWS SERVICE

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Anaheim Ducks' Corey Perry, bottom, crashes into the net of Edmonton Oilers goalie Jeff Deslauriers during the first period in Edmonton on Friday. JOHN ULAN, THE CANADIAN PRESS

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Anaheim Ducks goalie Curtis McElhinney deflects a shot from the Edmonton Oilers during the first periodin Edmonton. JOHN ULAN, THE CANADIAN PRESS

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Anaheim Ducks' Kyle Chipchura, left, and Edmonton Oilers' Andrew Cogliano fall to the ice during the first period in Edmonton on Friday. JOHN ULAN, THE CANADIAN PRESS

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Edmonton Oilers' Zack Stortini, right, fights with Anaheim Ducks' George Parros during the second period. JOHN ULAN, THE CANADIAN PRESS

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Edmonton Oilers' Dean Arsene, left, checks Anaheim Ducks' Nick Bonino during the second period in Edmonton. JOHN ULAN, THE CANADIAN PRESS

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Edmonton Oilers goalie Jeff Deslauriers, left, blocks a shot from Anaheim Ducks' Teemu Selanne, right, as Oliers' Jason Strudwick looks on during the second period. JOHN ULAN, THE CANADIAN PRESS

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The Edmonton Oilers' Shawn Horcoff, left, and the Anaheim Ducks' Nick Bonino (63) work the boards during NHL action at Rexall Place in Edmonton, Alberta, on Friday. CHRIS SCHWARZ, CANWEST NEWS SERVICE

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Edmonton Oilers goalie Jeff Deslauriers makes a save against the Anaheim Ducks' Teemu Selane as Oiler defenseman Taylor Chorney trails the play during NHL action at Rexall Place in Edmonton, Alberta. SHAUGHN BUTTS, CANWEST NEWS SERVICE

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Edmonton Oilers' Ethan Moreau (18) tries to get the puck from Anaheim Ducks' Corey Perry during NHL action at Rexall Place in Edmonton, Alberta. SHAUGHN BUTTS, CANWEST NEWS SERVICE

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Edmonton Oilers' Andrew Cogliano, right, carries the puck along the boards with Anaheim Ducks' Troy Bodie in hot pursuit during NHL action at Rexall Place in Edmonton, Alberta. CHRIS SCHWARZ, CANWEST NEWS SERVICE

Edmonton Oilers' Andrew Cogliano (13) is taken down by Anaheim Ducks defenseman and former teammate Lubomir Visnovsky (17) during NHL action at Rexall Place in Edmonton. SHAUGHN BUTTS, CANWEST NEWS SERVICE

EDMONTON, Alberta – Reality did set in for the Ducks and they acknowledged it Friday night by sitting a couple of veterans, giving a backup goalie his first start with his new team and throwing a fresh-faced collegian right into the fire.

Wise move.

The Ducks accepted the fact that they'll be sitting out this postseason by snapping a two-game losing streak as they rode two third-period goals by Corey Perry and a strong effort in goal by Curtis McElhinney to a 3-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers.

"Every game we want to go out and we want to work hard," Perry said. "We want to get two points and we want to have fun. This game is about having fun and that's how we approached it."

Another victory by Detroit pushed the Ducks even closer to elimination as they remained a distant 11 points behind both the Red Wings and Colorado for the final playoff spot.

But the Ducks (35-31-8) looked like they had a big load taken off them. Perry connected on power-play tallies down low just 1:35 apart after penalties by former teammate Ryan Whitney and Taylor Chorney gave them a two-man advantage.

"It's been a little while," said Perry, whose two-goal game was his first since Nov. 3. "That's what I have to do. I have to be in front of the net, getting rebounds and getting second chances."

The Ducks held off a comeback as late penalties by Brendan Mikkelson and Sheldon Brookbank allowed Marc Pouliot to score a six-on-three goal with 19.4 seconds left. But McElhinney stood out by making several nice stops among his 34 saves.

Not only did they get a look at McElhinney and Mikkelson, but Nick Bonino made his NHL debut on the top line with Ryan Getzlaf out because of his high ankle sprain. Todd Marchant and Jason Blake were scratched as Ryan Carter and Dan Sexton got back in the lineup.

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